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Subject:
Hurting the Sentiments of Ordinary Nepalese
jg
8/28/2005 4:19:35 PM
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Hurting the Sentiments of Ordinary Nepalese
-Dr Raj
In the book ?People Politics and Ideology Democracy and Social Change in Nepal (1999) Martin Hoftun et. al quoted a senior Indian diplomat saying ?by the year 2000 Nepal will become a part of India?. Despite his/her imperialist claim, fortunately, for proud Nepalese that nothing such has happened, and let?s hope it will never come about. At the same time, since the restoration multiparty ?democracy? in 1990, Prime Minister Girija Koirala and his cronies encouraged Indian leaders to have a colossal influence on Nepal's internal affairs so that their power could be secured. Leadership under Koirala not only accumulated national wealth in their pockets, but also managed to sell off Nepal?s natural resources to Indian government. Today the main benefit Nepalese have got is the inundation of country?s some 1800 kilometre long strip of fat plain bordering India ? less than five percent of Nepal?s total land area that supports almost 50 percent the country?s livelihood.
After 1 February 2005, Sujata Koirala (or Jost, as she is married to a German national!) has arrived in Delhi begging Indian establishment to discontinue military aid to Nepal? unless of course her power hungry father regains his political seat. Does she ever acknowledge that her authoritarian father is the one who actively created violent insurgency in the country? She is petitioning with Indian leaders that King Gyanendra?s move to protect the sovereign independence and territorial integrity of Nepal would be ?bad? for India. Hooray, Ms Koirala! This is precisely what Nepal needs after your unscrupulous father, who ruthlessly deprived 25 million Nepalese by making a few cronies, including you prosperous, and now you have blatantly become Nepal bashing. A word of caution though if in 3 years time your father or his ?tails? come to clutch political chair, they might have a lot of explaining to do for your thoughtless anti-China and Pakistan balderdash.
Also, lets just hope for Ms Koirala that her father and his associates do not have bank accounts like that of former joint secretary, Niranjan Prasad Chalise, embezzling more than NRs 41.4 million public money by opening 44 bank accounts in 17 banks in the name of his mother and wife. Otherwise the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is on fast-track to recover years of looted properties of Nepalese people, and hand out jail terms. Ms Koirala might be finding an exit path to safe heaven for her father as well as all those plunderers, but lets hope the CIAA is also speeding up. For those who understand current realties from inside Nepal, it is a bit of joyful news that finally at least some national assets will be recovered before these corrupt individuals make their escape. Ordinary Nepalese are also hopeful that King Gyanendra will exclude all these uneducated and corrupt leaders, especially authoritarian Girija Koirala and his comrades. Failing to do so, would not bring any positive changes to Nepal.
Since King Gyanendra assumed all executive powers on 1 February 2005, we have not seen any individual acting ethically while exalting anti-King rhetoric, and remaining mute against Nepal?s People?s War totalitarians and corrupt politicians. So, it has definitely appeared that there is no point in following ethnical principles. Some names of those who are stalwartly misrepresenting the current events in Nepal have appeared in this article. It may afterall be acceptable to include such external individuals, who have taken Nepal?s politics as if it is their personal property.
From the imploring of Ms Koirala, it now appears that Nepal?s crooked politicians may be engaged in clandestine negotiation with Indian leaders. Such doubts are fading away for the fact that now we are hearing news headlines such as ?India reaffirms its support to political parties? instead of understanding the plight of ordinary Nepalese. Who knows Nepal?s destiny may be heading towards like that of 1950 Nepal-India (Un)Friendship Treaty that has kept Nepal like a semi-colony of Delhi. Nepal?s opportunist figures may be collaborating with certain anti-Nepal academics like Prof. S. D. Muni to prepare their strategic plans regarding how to make Nepal more subservient than ever by playing dirty games between the atrocious insurgents and a few nationalist Nepalese, including King Gyanendra, and by unfoundedly making China and Pakistan villains in Nepal?s internal politics.
Meanwhile, our foreignised Nepalese, some Western governments, and even academics, including Dr Karl-Heinz Krämer are opting to export ?liberal democracy? Constitution of Europe or preferably of the US so that all the ?-doms? of Nepal?s nano-minority can be secured. It has been clear from their use of abusive language against King Gyanendra while at the same time offering no alternatives to the current turmoil in Nepal. In fact, there is no mentioning whatsoever of the atrocities of People?s War terrorists.
Recently, we have been hearing/seeing news clips that Britain has suspended £1.4 million (British Pounds) non-lethal military assistance to Nepal while India (with unknown amounts) has decided to put on hold of its military supplies. Now, Nepal People?s War terrorists must be happy. If the Nepalese army has a limited logistical support, they can accelerate their destruction campaign, including bombing schools, ambulances, torching dozens of trucks with live animals inside, letting hundreds of children and women injured and killed by abandoning bombs in their fields, forests or school premises.
In the mean time, while a vast majority of people in Nepal are fearing for their lives, others are concerned with their business while suspending their supports to fight bloody insurgency once and for all. For instance, Indian Ambassador Shib Mukherjee has expressed his ?displeasure at difficulties by Indian joint venture companies to government officials including United Telecom Limited (UTL) - a joint venture company which got an operating license for 10 years in 2003.? The reality is, as Nepalese army intensifies its hunt for People?s War insurgents, cutting military aid to Nepal will naturally bring downfall to investment of India and other countries.
The threats have also come from humanitarian organisations against King Gyanendra?s dismissal of counterproductive Deuba-led government. It is unfortunate to hear such pressures, which will only have a direct impact on those Nepalese who are in separate need. While the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation reportedly said it has suspended its projects (amounting some US$16 million a year) in Nepal due to consistent threats from Nepal?s rebels, Denmark has stopped all aid (EUR 20 million annually) to the government of Nepal because of the King?s takeover of power. It is surprising that they did not seem to have problems until the 1 February 2005. Does this also mean that Nepal?s donor countries are more interested in its internal politics than the people suffering from poverty and violence? And there is also question of whether aid organisations really make a difference in needy people?s lives. We have vividly reminded that about 80 percent of grants fly back to the same donor country and hardly 20 percent remains for people who are supposed to receive everything.
It may be understandable that Nepal?s political leaders are pleased to destroy the country for the sake of their vested interests, but it is hard to digest the fact that many ?qualified? Nepalese from Delhi, London to Washington also rallying after Western governments? suspension of aid to Nepal. It is ill-timed that these people residing in safe places are expressing their happiness when stopping ?foreign aid? to Nepal, which will first and foremost affect Nepalese people in desperate circumstances.
Then, there is the whole population of Nepal affected by the current state of emergency. In this difficult time, it may be wise to engage in pragmatic activities. Instead of staying mere spectators, those capable of doing something should continue helping the victims of violence. For instance, we are told that under currently ?at least 600 journalists have already lost their jobs and another 1,000 could be laid off? if situation does not improve (but we are noticing from Nepali Times? ?liberty gauge? that it is improving!). This is a kind of sad news even though Nepalese media outlets have not gone beyond urban centres ? pretty much following the pattern of Nepalese leaders. However, the journalists and human rights activists of Nepal could take the courage to make current circumstances something like a recreation for social cause, and perform some humanely deeds.
If possible, journalists and human rights activists could get in touch with violent insurgency affected districts like Kapilbastu, Dailekh, Rukum etc. to document local people?s plights, and may be actually offer them some direct financial or otherwise support. It is needless to repeat that the need of the hour is that all Nepalese with certain decency should take every opportunity available to them to help the people who are anguished. Running behind the corrupt leaders, who have devastated Nepal and would not even hesitate to lose sovereignty to fulfil their vested interests, is (and will be) quite unfortunate.
Meanwhile, the militant student organisations of various unprincipled political parties, as they cannot destroy public properties in the name of peaceful demonstrations, could visit far flung districts of the country to finally payoff their debts to Nepal and Nepalese people. They can help the people of Dailekh and Kapilbastu districts standing against the atrocity of the People?s War terrorists who have troubled them with frequent acts of coercion and intimidation like closures, kidnapping, extortion, tortures and killings. They could also help reconstruct bombed Kailali district court building so that ordinary people could go there to fight for their justices. Similarly, the current state of emergency does not allow violent student organisations to forcefully close-down schools in the towns, they could go to districts such as Rukum to destroy bunkers around schools, and rebuilds several schools bombed by Nepal?s backward looking insurgents. Moreover, they could find medical support to hundreds of children severely injured in land mines and hand-bombs indiscriminately left behind by Nepal?s terrorists.
It is obvious that Nepal?s politicians are not interested protecting Nepal, and serving Nepalese people. In fact, it currently appears that people like Sujata Koirala and her associates would not even mind if Indian leaders decided to invade the country. Obviously, the present move of King Gyanendra annoys many in the West because they profess anti-King, and anti-Hinduism attitudes. This is clear from the fact that when Nepal captures a few illegally entered Tibetans, it makes international news headlines, but over 100,000 Lhotshampa people exiled by the King of Bhutan since the early 1990s have never received any serious attention. Then, there are some Nepalese who like to imprudently run after those having ill-intentions towards Nepal. What else shall we expect? Afterall Nepal is a ?hallai halla-ko desh? (a rumour filled country). For those who believe that peace is the top most priority of today should whole-heartedly support any course of action that achieves its goal.
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